Process of refining iron.



a M d S N K W A H w F. 0 2l! 5 4 6 n N PROCESS 0F REFINING IRUN.

(Application med may e, 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK lV. I-IAlVKINS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FIFTH TC THOMAS A. E. -WEADCCK, TRUSTEE, OE SAME PLACE.

PRocEssoF REFINING IRON.

SPECIFICATON forming part of Letters Patent No. 645,205, dated March 13, 1900.

Application filed May 6, 1899. Serial No. 715,859. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. HAW- KINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of W'ayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes o f Refining Iron, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to a'method of relining metal, and has particular reference to the refining of iron for the manufacture of steel.

It is the object of the invention to more quickly and thoroughly eliminate from the metal certavinimpurities of detrimental character, such as phosphorus, which do not readily yield to processes of oxidation, as in the Bessemer converter.

To this end my invention consists in the method hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings I have shown in diagram an apparatus capable of carrying out my improved method, and in'which vFigure 1 is a diagram longitudinal section, and Fig. 2 a horizontal section.

My improved method consists, essentially, in two steps, which, however, are preferably carried outwithout interruption in a single apparatus. The first of these steps consists in the atomizin g or breaking up of the molten metal into minute particles. This is accomplished by subjecting a thin stream of the metal to the action of a strong blast, which is directed laterally against-the stream and preferably inclined slightly upward, so as to break up the metal and scatter the particles.

In the drawings I have shown an openhearth furnace A, projecting into one end of which is a steam-pipe B, terminating in a nozzle C, this nozzle being located, preferably, above one end of the hearth.

D is an inlet forv the molten metal, which is formed by a narrow slit in the roof of the f u r-4 E is an air-twyer arranged above the steammetal falling in a thin stream through the in let D will pass directly in front of a steam-A nozzle C, through which a powerful blast of steam, preferably superheated ,is directed lat erally against the stream and breaks it up in the manner above described, scattering the particles over the entire length of the hearth, upon whichthey will fall in the form of a fine rain. At the same time air, preferably preheated, enters through the twyer E and is directed against the stream of molten` metal vabove the steam-jet and assists in atomizing bed of crushed or comminuted basic material.A

This material is strewn over the hearth, as shownV at F, of the furnace and is heated to a high temperature before the metal is introduced into the furnace. Thus when the particles of molten metal drop uponthis basic bed they will be compelled t0 filter through the same and in so doing will be brought into suc-h intimate relation with the basic as to thoroughly eliminate the phosphorus and other impurities of like nature. As the metal collects at G below the basic bed the latter will be raised, so that the. action will continue until the entire charge of metal has been thus atomized and filtered through.

It will be readily understood that this method of treatment can only result in a homogeneous mass of purified iron, as every particle is subjected to precisely the same chemical influences, whereas in other processes where the metal is treated in bulk no such uniformity in result can be obtained. Furthermore, by my process the time required for the purification of the iron is greatly diminished over otherprocesses in which the metal is treated in the open-hearth furnace'.

I claim- 1. A method of rening iron consisting in the separate particles through a heated bed Io rst atomizing or breaking up into minute parof oomlninuted basic material.

ticles and scattering of the molten metal, and in then filtering the separate particles through a bed of comminuted basic material.

2. The herein-described method of refining iron consisting in first atomizing or breaking up and scattering the molten'metai into minute particles by a blast and in then filtering vIn testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRE DERIGK XV. HAVKINS.

Vtnesses: l

JAMESV WVHIjrTEMORE, M. B. ODOGHERTY. 

